NTBI Retreat

Our staff at NTBI traveled to Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania for their first ever staff retreat. It was held at the New Tribes Insititute where Lisa and I did our missionary training back in 1982.

Today it is a mobilization center providing churches with an opportunity to take a weekend and learn about missions including a reconstruction of a tribal village.

We spent time listening to the Word from two of our staff, sang hymns we used to sing during our training days, we played games, roasted marshmallows, swam in Larry’s Creek, checked out the local ice cream and general store. The most important part was that we did it together.

For Lisa and I, it brought back memories of our days at Jersey Shore, young and wanting to follow God to the ends of the earth. There were good memories of our kids learning to ride bicycles, the first time we went snow sledding, making friends that have lasted our lifetime.

Others were sad as we remembered the fire in our jungle camp house that left my son Christopher and myself with severe burns. A year later, our oldest son Andrew died. We remembered too, however, the comfort and support we received from the staff at that them and the local community.

All in all, a good time for us and our staff.